Papa Roach

Papa Roach Artistfacts

  • 1993-
    Jacoby Shaddix (Coby Dick)Vocals
    Jerry HortonGuitar
    Tobin EsperanceBass1996-
    Dave BucknerDrums1993-2007
    Tony PalermoDrums2007-
  • The band's name is taken from lead singer Jacoby Shaddix's grandfathers, both of whom were "amazing musicians." His maternal grandfather, Herbert Fischer, was nicknamed Papa. His paternal grandfather was named John Roatch. Putting the two together equals Papa Roatch, stylized to Papa Roach.
  • Early on, they used a cockroach in their logo, because they wanted to avoid the marijuana connection implied by the word "roach."
  • Shaddix used the stage name "Coby Dick," a play on the Herman Melville novel Moby Dick, until 2002, when he decided to use his real name.
  • They recorded for independent labels before being signed by Dreamworks in October 1999.
  • MTV provided a lot of exposure for the band in their early years. Their videos were frequently played on Total Request Live, which aired the day's most viewer-requested songs.
  • They started their own record label through Dreamworks called New Noize. The first signing was Alien Ant Farm, which issued their 2001 album ANThology on the label. Then about 20 years went by with no more releases on New Noize until Papa Roach put out their 2022 album Ego Trip on the label.
  • They toured with Ozzfest in 2001 to support their albumInfest. In between stops they used a spare bus to record tracks for their third album, Lovehatetragedy, which was originally titled Born to Rock.
  • Shaddix took up clarinet at around 8 years old and played in the Vacaville High School band.
  • They were the supporting act for The Red Hot Chili Peppers on their 2002 By The Way tour.
  • They are from Vacaville California, a town about 30 miles southwest of Sacramento.
  • Papa Roach's first public performance was a talent show at Vacaville High School in 1993. They played "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix and lost the contest. That early lineup lacked a lead guitarist and featured a trombonist named Ben Luther.
  • Shaddix is an extremely confessional songwriter. In his Songfacts interview, he said: "Sometimes, I let a little too much hang out, but it is what it is. I just want to be real, and that's how I do it: through this music."
  • After battling with alcohol and drug abuse, Shaddix converted to Christianity in 2012. Papa Roach's F.E.A.R. album contains some specifically Christian orientated songs such as "Devil" and "Falling Apart."
  • The music video for the Infest single "Between Angels And Insects shows lost of Madagascar hissing cockroaches pouring out of the band's instruments, leading to a widespread legend that the band raised their own cockroaches and took them out on stage. It was a myth; the insects were provided by a company.
  • The band's first Dreamworks release was their second album, Infest, released in 2000. It was huge, selling over 4 million copies in America, but when it was issued, Walmart and Kmart refused to stock it because of explicit lyrics. Papa Roach rushed out a heavily censored version to sell in those stores.
  • From 2002 to 2004 Shaddix performed as "John Doe" in a band named Fight the Sky, which he helped create and sign to Papa Roach's label El Tonal Records. Fight the Sky recorded an album titled Seven Deadly Songs, but for undisclosed reasons never released it. News on the band went silent, and the El Tonal label appeared to shut down as well.
  • In January 2026 Papa Roach released a single titled "Wake Up Calling," which followed "Even If It Kills Me," released in late 2025. Both songs were promoted as build-ups to the band's 12th studio album. They spent the year on the Rise of the Roach World Tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Infest. This included a stop at the relaunch of Warped Tour.

Comments: 13

  • Arthur from Florence, Alpapa roach recorded their album the paramour sessions at the paramour mansion. the paramour masnion is also believed to be haunted.
  • Carrie from Vacaville, CaI actually new Jacoby before he was famous. My friend Sarah worked with him at Fresh Choice in Vacaville. He was a dishwasher and she was a server. One night we all hand out and he drove to Dixon (where my twin sis an I lived at the time) and I remember sitting next to him in the cab of a truck hearing him say over and over "I'm in a band and I'm gonna be famous someday". We all kinda just laughed it off 'cause a lot of people say that. Then about 2 years later I was a server at Mary's Pizza Shack and the band came in. I was serving them pizza and they still weren't super famous...but they were creeping out into the music scene. Very cool guys! Last but not least...the drummer was going out with this girl named Gretta who was a good friend of mine's cousin. He dumped her right after he got famous and married the Tyler girl. I'm not a huge fan, I just thought all of you fans might want to know a few more facts about the band.
  • Tiffany from West Palm Beach, FlI LOVE PAPA ROACH!!!!THEY ROCK!!!I'm obsessed with them....serously!I love all of them especially Jacoby, I LOVE JACOBY!!HE IS THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE!!Not only is he hot but he writes awesome lyrics, i can relate to almost all of his songs, my favorite song would have to be Broken Home, because that is the song i can mostly relate to.My other favs. would have to be time&time again, last resort, binge, between angles&insects, lovehatetradgedy, scars, sos, alive, reckless, and the fire.KEEP ON ROCKIN' PAPA ROACH, NEVER STOP!!
  • Denise from Peterborough, EnglandScars is without exception the best PR track and the video is great. And Coby Shaddix is yummy, top male totty!
  • Brando from Vacaville, Capapa roach is hella tight. the drummer lives right down the street from me
  • Melissa from My PlaceI love Papa Roach so much they rock! They have great lyrics and a great beat to all there songs that make them fun and meaningful. PaPa RoAcH rOcKs!
  • Pamela from Drexel , Monickelback is a cool band and i like their songs and lyrics and so does my mom karen spellman and we both like to see chad kroeger's band play in concert and i like leader of men by nickelback's chad kroeger song and we both would like to go backstage to see them and to hang out with them and go to see a movie
  • Jasmin from Heidelberg, DePaPa RoAcH is the band who had changed my Personality the most. The lyrics describe my life. That´s why I love the band and they try to make different things. I mean Infest, Lovehatetragedy and Getting away with murder. First it was Crossover then Punk rock and now real Rock `n´ Roll... And live the Band is the best one...
    Jasmin, DE
  • Laura from Kemi, FinlandI Love Papa Roach. The best band in the whole world! They have great songs and Coby Dick or Jacoby Shaddix is sooo HOT!!!
  • Legacy User from Legacy Location Did anyone else see the polka version of last resort(papa roach of course), get free(the Vines),and Hate to say I told you so(the hives).The polka version was created by Weird AL Yankovic...It was hilarious!
  • Ian from New York, NySorry to break it to you P-Roach fans but this band is one of the most average nu-metal bands around. Though I do like their sense of fasion.
  • Lorena from Santa Monica, Cahow can anyone NOT like papa roach???? i just dont get it?! is that why only 1 other person posted on this site?? my favorite song by them though i "last resort" im not sure why but it is i also like thier new one "getting away with murder" i love the beat is has and the lirics are pretty kool too! and yea CALI KICKZ A$$!!!!!!!!!!
  • Travis from Sacramento, CaFrom Sacramento, California. The band still films thier music videos in Sac-town and suburbs of the city.
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